NRC Reaches Settlement With CA Company That Imported, Distributed Radioactive Material Without Licenses
Washington, D.C.–The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has reached a settlement with Harman International Industries Incorporated, of Northridge, California, in which Harman agrees to implement multiple corrective actions and program enhancements after it imported and distributed products containing radioactive material without proper licenses.
In June, the NRC cited Harman for three violations of agency regulations for importing, possessing and distributing lamps containing krypton-85 without the proper licenses to possess and distribute radioactive materials. Before June 2018, Harman was located in Elkhart, Ind., where the NRC has licensing authority. As a result of the NRC’s investigation, which began in 2016, the company halted the import and distribution of lamps and spare bulbs containing krypton-85. On Dec. 15, 2017, the company was issued a license by California to possess radioactive material and a separate license by the NRC to distribute lamps containing krypton-85.
The agreement, reached through the NRC’s alternative dispute resolution process, was announced Oct. 2 in the Federal Register. In it, Harman agrees to appoint a Compliance Officer to ensure that the company complies with NRC regulations. The Compliance Officer will oversee the company’s new process to ensure that NRC requirements are met when any new products are imported and distributed within the U.S.
The company will also conduct training in NRC requirements for senior officials and those involved in the compliance process, conduct program audits, and will inform its foreign suppliers of NRC requirements for exporting radioactive material to U.S. entities.